Inferred user identity in content distribution

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for inferred user identity in content distribution. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for inferred user identity in content distribution includes retrieving a set of data of a particular classification from a data store of a computing device of an unidentified user requesting access to content in a content distribution system. The method further includes comparing the set of data of the particular classification to known patterns of data of the particular classification corresponding to different known users. The method yet further includes inferring an identity of the unidentified user based upon at least a partial matching of the compared set of data of the particular classification and known patterns of data of the particular classification. Finally, the method includes managing user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for inferred user identity in content distribution, the method comprising:
 accessing by a content server, a data store in a computing device of an unidentified end user that is requesting access to content in the content server from over a computer communications network; 
 retrieving from the data store of the computing device by the content server during the accessing of the data store a set of data describing different interactions between the computing device and different computers other than the content server; 
 determining from the set of data once retrieved from the data store a pattern of utilization of the computing device comprising a set of multiple different interactions between the computing device and individual ones of the different computers at respectively different times; 
 in response to the determination of the pattern of utilization, comparing the identified pattern of utilization to multiple different known patterns of utilization corresponding to different known, previously identified users; 
 on condition that the identified pattern of utilization at least partially matches one of the multiple different known patterns, inferring an identity of the unidentified end user as one of previously identified users associated with the partially matched one of the multiple different known patterns of data; and, 
 managing user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple different known patterns of utilization comprise a listing of different ones of the different computers and corresponding times of access in connection with one of the previously identified users comprises a listing of previously visited Web sites at particular times. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple different known patterns of utilization comprise a listing of different ones of the different computers and corresponding times of access in connection with one of the previously identified users comprises a listing of addresses of previously connected computers. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple different known patterns of utilization comprise a listing of different ones of the different computers and corresponding times of access in connection with one of the previously identified users comprises a listing of previous geographic locations of the computing device during the corresponding times of access. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inferring occurs on condition that the identified pattern of utilization at least partially matches one of the multiple different known patterns with a computed degree of confidence. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein managing user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity comprises tracking user behavior accessing content in the content distribution system in connection with the inferred identity. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein managing user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity comprises limiting access to content in the content distribution system according to the inferred identity. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , wherein managing user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity comprises limiting access to content in the content distribution system according to the inferred identity and the computed degree of confidence. 
     
     
       9. A computer program product for inferred user identity in content distribution, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: 
 computer readable program code for retrieving from a data store of a computing device that is requesting access to content in a content server and by the content server during the accessing of the data store a set of data describing different interactions between the computing device and different computers other than the content server; 
 computer readable program code for determining from the set of data once retrieved from the data store a pattern of utilization of the computing device comprising a set of multiple different interactions between the computing device and individual ones of the different computers at respectively different times; 
 computer readable program code for, in response to the determination of the pattern of utilization, comparing the identified pattern of utilization to multiple different known patterns of utilization corresponding to different known, previously identified users; 
 computer readable program code for, on condition that the identified pattern of utilization at least partially matches one of the multiple different known patterns, inferring an identity of the unidentified end user as one of previously identified users associated with the partially matched one of the multiple different known patterns of data; and, 
 computer readable program code for managing user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the multiple different known patterns of utilization comprise a listing of different ones of the different computers and corresponding times of access in connection with one of the previously identified users comprises a listing of previously visited Web sites at particular times. 
     
     
       11. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the multiple different known patterns of utilization comprise a listing of different ones of the different computers and corresponding times of access in connection with one of the previously identified users comprises a listing of addresses of previously connected computers. 
     
     
       12. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the multiple different known patterns of utilization comprise a listing of different ones of the different computers and corresponding times of access in connection with one of the previously identified users comprises a listing of previous geographic locations of the computing device during the corresponding times of access. 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein managing user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity comprises tracking user behavior accessing content in the content distribution system in connection with the inferred identity. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein managing user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity comprises limiting access to content in the content distribution system according to the inferred identity. 
     
     
       15. A content distribution data processing system comprising:
 a content server executing in memory by at least one process of a host computer; and, 
 a user identity inference module comprising program code configured upon execution in the host computer to:
 access by a content server, a data store in a computing device of an unidentified end user that is requesting access to content in the content server from over a computer communications network, 
 retrieve from the data store of the computing device by the content server during the accessing of the data store a set of data describing different interactions between the computing device and different computers other than the content server, 
 determine from the set of data once retrieved from the data store a pattern of utilization of the computing device comprising a set of multiple different interactions between the computing device and individual ones of the different computers at respectively different times, 
 in response to the determination of the pattern of utilization, compare the identified pattern of utilization to multiple different known patterns of utilization corresponding to different known, previously identified users, 
 on condition that the identified pattern of utilization at least partially matches one of the multiple different known patterns, infer an identity of the unidentified end user as one of previously identified users associated with the partially matched one of the multiple different known patterns of data, and 
 manage user interactions of the unidentified user based upon the inferred identity based upon the inferred identity. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the multiple different known patterns of utilization comprise a listing of different ones of the different computers and corresponding times of access in connection with one of the previously identified users comprises a listing of previously visited Web sites at particular times. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the multiple different known patterns of utilization comprise a listing of different ones of the different computers and corresponding times of access in connection with one of the previously identified users comprises a listing of previous geographic locations of the computing device during the corresponding times of access.